Great Stillness Zen Center

Great Stillness Zen Center Supporting the activities and members of the Great Stillness Meditation Group in St. Louis County.

As people, we believe in something because we are immersed in a story that is often invisible to us. This point drives s...
06/30/2022

As people, we believe in something because we are immersed in a story that is often invisible to us. This point drives straight into the heart of the Buddhist path, and Zen practice in particular. We are telling ourselves stories constantly, about everything we experience, most of us without being aware of it. Everything I experience, my mind wants to create a story and commentary about it....

As people, we believe in something because we are immersed in a story that is often invisible to us. This point drives straight into the heart of the Buddhist path, and Zen practice in particular. …

In our modern society, we find a common belief about the mind and our experience – that problematic mental states are so...
06/17/2022

In our modern society, we find a common belief about the mind and our experience – that problematic mental states are something that happen to us, that we have no control over them, and are in no sense created by us. When we take up this kind of relationship stance with the mind, it robs us of our own authority in our lives, and allows us to avoid taking responsibility for what does (or doesn’t) happen in our life....

In our modern society, we find a common belief about the mind and our experience – that problematic mental states are something that happen to us, that we have no control over them, and are in no s…

It is a popular misconception today that in meditative practice we focus on producing specific mental states. While regu...
06/01/2022

It is a popular misconception today that in meditative practice we focus on producing specific mental states. While regular practice will develop certain mental qualities and habits, chasing specific mental states is like spinning our wheels when stuck in the mud because the mind is constantly changing states. The Buddha called for us to investigate all mental states. This type of focus in practice includes concentration and mindfulness (so popular today), but is certainly not made up entirely of them....

It is a popular misconception today that in meditative practice we focus on producing specific mental states. While regular practice will develop certain mental qualities and habits, chasing specif…

Cause is reckoned by the particular condition dependent upon which it arises… - Gotama Buddha Our experience of matter, ...
05/18/2022

Cause is reckoned by the particular condition dependent upon which it arises… - Gotama Buddha Our experience of matter, of the physical world we inhabit, comes from the five senses; this is “form” (rūpa). When the five physical sense organs “contact” an object, it produces five mental processes. These five mental processes capture, know, and apprehend it through a concept....

Cause is reckoned by the particular condition dependent upon which it arises… – Gotama Buddha Our experience of matter, of the physical world we inhabit, comes from the five senses; this is “…

What Is Consciousness? It is a truly deep question, to define what the substance of my consciousness is exactly. For me,...
05/03/2022

What Is Consciousness? It is a truly deep question, to define what the substance of my consciousness is exactly. For me, it sparks the question: can I ever actually truly know? Truthfully, I am uncertain we can fully answer this question in a human life. But this common human investigation has intrigued me for quite some time. Regardless of time, place, or culture, people continuously return to this foundational inquiry....

What Is Consciousness? It is a truly deep question, to define what the substance of my consciousness is exactly. For me, it sparks the question: can I ever actually truly know? Truthfully, I am unc…

One of the core teachings of early Buddhism is Moha (desire, attachment to the world or worldly matters). This term pred...
04/17/2022

One of the core teachings of early Buddhism is Moha (desire, attachment to the world or worldly matters). This term predates the Buddha, appearing in the Indian Vedic texts, and has roots in early Vedic word mogha, which means “empty, unreal, vain, useless, foolish”. In Buddhism, it came to mean “delusion, confusion, dullness”. As such, moha is the opposite of…...

One of the core teachings of early Buddhism is Moha (desire, attachment to the world or worldly matters). This term predates the Buddha, appearing in the Indian Vedic texts, and has roots in early …

“Just as the great ocean has one taste, the taste of salt, so also this teaching & discipline has one taste, the taste o...
04/02/2022

“Just as the great ocean has one taste, the taste of salt, so also this teaching & discipline has one taste, the taste of liberation.” - Gotama Buddha Above is a well-known quote of the Buddha, from the Udāna (a Buddhist scripture of the Pali Canon), which conveys the message that although there are many teachings in the Buddhist practice, they all have one “flavor”, that of freedom....

“Just as the great ocean has one taste, the taste of salt, so also this teaching & discipline has one taste, the taste of liberation.” – Gotama Buddha Above is a well-known quote of the …

The history of the Mahayana practice tradition is one of change, evolution, inclusion and adaptation to new cultural env...
03/19/2022

The history of the Mahayana practice tradition is one of change, evolution, inclusion and adaptation to new cultural environments and contexts. Because of many factors, Buddhism in India, the original communities founded by the historical Buddha, had grown inflexible and stale. Unresponsive to the mysteries of being and change (impermanence) that surround us. They had become locked into, held back, and even enslaved to a legalistic interpretation of Dharma and Buddha’s teachings rather than the living truth of the reality of consciousness....

The history of the Mahayana practice tradition is one of change, evolution, inclusion and adaptation to new cultural environments and contexts. Because of many factors, Buddhism in India, the origi…

The dialogue of the Diamond Sutra opens with the monk Subhuti asking the Buddha about how the spiritual practitioner sho...
02/24/2022

The dialogue of the Diamond Sutra opens with the monk Subhuti asking the Buddha about how the spiritual practitioner should control the mind and conduct themselves. This brings to mind one of the famous stories in Zen, as recorded in Case 41 of the Zen record, the Gateless Gate (無門關, Wúménguān) when Huike (the eventual 2nd Ancestor of the Zen School) asked Bodhidharma to help him pacify the mind: …...

The dialogue of the Diamond Sutra opens with the monk Subhuti asking the Buddha about how the spiritual practitioner should control the mind and conduct themselves. This brings to mind one of the f…

The opening chapter of the Diamond Sutra reads: Thus have I heard: Once the Bhagavan was dwelling near Shravasti at Anat...
02/17/2022

The opening chapter of the Diamond Sutra reads: Thus have I heard: Once the Bhagavan was dwelling near Shravasti at Anathapindika’s Garden in Jeta Forest together with the full assembly of 1250 bhikkhus and a great many fearless bodhisattvas. One day before noon, the Bhagavan put on his patched robe and picked up his bowl and entered the capital of Shravasti for offerings....

The opening chapter of the Diamond Sutra reads: Thus have I heard: Once the Bhagavan [historical Buddha; meaning the blessed or fortunate one] was dwelling near Shravasti at Anathapindika’s Garden …

Introduction Even though the Diamond Sutra is short, its wisdom is deep and profound. It reflects and points toward an a...
02/10/2022

Introduction Even though the Diamond Sutra is short, its wisdom is deep and profound. It reflects and points toward an awakened relationship with reality itself. I do not make any claims to understand the deepest levels of this text. I endeavor continuously to understand more and see more clearly. This essay is a part of that process. My understanding and interpretation are shallow....

Introduction Even though the Diamond Sutra is short, its wisdom is deep and profound. It reflects and points toward an awakened relationship with reality itself. I do not make any claims to underst…

There are many types of meditation methods found throughout the world’s various contemplative traditions. Just as there ...
02/04/2021

There are many types of meditation methods found throughout the world’s various contemplative traditions. Just as there is no one method of meditation, there is no one singular goal for the practice of meditation. Even within the Zen/Chan tradition of East Asia, one finds there is not always an agreement regarding a specific method of meditation, or how one is to practice it....

There are many types of meditation methods found throughout the world’s various contemplative traditions. Just as there is no one method of meditation, there is no one singular goal for the practic…

Address

Edmundson, MO

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Great Stillness Zen Center posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Great Stillness Zen Center:

Shortcuts

Share

Category